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Notice of Intent To Prepare a Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Associated National Environmental Policy Act Document

Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.

 [Federal Register: June 23, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 122)]
[Notices]
[Page 39172-39173]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23jn00-79]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Comprehensive Conservation Plan and
Associated National Environmental Policy Act Document

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare a Comprehensive Conservation Plan
and Associated National Environmental Policy Act Document.

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SUMMARY: This Notice of Intent advises the public that the Fish and
Wildlife Service (Service) intends to gather information necessary to
prepare a Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and environmental
document (environmental assessment or environmental impact statement)
for the South San Diego Bay Unit of the San Diego National Wildlife
Refuge and Sweetwater Marsh National Wildlife Refuge. The Service is
furnishing this notice in compliance with the Service CCP policy and
the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and its implementing
regulations.
    The purpose of this notice is to (1) initiate the public
involvement and scoping for the CCP/NEPA planning and decision-making
process, (2) to advise other agencies and the public of our intentions,
(3) to solicit suggestions and information on the scope of issues to be
addressed in the environmental document, and (4) to announce that
public workshops/open houses will be held to present information and
receive public input.

DATES: Written comments should be received by July 31, 2000. Public
open houses will be held on:
    1. July 10, 2000, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Imperial Beach, CA.
    2. July 11, 2000, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Chula Vista, CA.

ADDRESSES: Mail comments concerning this notice and requests to be
added to the mailing list to Mendel Stewart, Project Leader, San Diego
Refuge Complex, Fish and Wildlife Service, 2722 Loker Ave. W, Suite D,
Carlsbad, CA 92008.
    The open house locations are:
    1. Imperial Beach--Marina Vista Center, 1075 8th Street, Imperial
Beach, CA 91932
    2. Chula Vista--Chula Vista Nature Center (Auditorium), 1000
Gunpowder Point Drive, Chula Vista, CA 91910

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Victoria Touchstone, Project Planner,
at (619) 691-1185.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    By Federal law, all lands within the National Wildlife Refuge
System are to be managed in accordance with an approved CCP. The
purpose of a CCP is to describe the desired future conditions of the
refuge and provide long-range guidance and management direction to
accomplish the purposes of the refuge, contribute to the mission of the
Refuge System and meet other relevant mandates. Several other goals of
the CCP process include: (1) Conducting refuge planning in accordance
with an

[[Page 39173]]

ecosystem approach, (2) providing a public forum for the public to
comment on the type, extent and compatibility of wildlife-dependent
recreational uses within the refuge area, and (3) ensuring public
involvement in refuge management decisions by providing a process for
effective coordination, interaction, and cooperation with affected
parties.
    The CCP will address habitat and wildlife management, habitat
protection and possible restoration, wildlife-dependent recreational
uses, and adjacency issues that could affect the Refuge goals and
management objectives that will be developed during this process.
Public input into this planning process is essential. The Service will
solicit comments from the public via noticed meetings, open houses, and
written comments. Special mailings, newspaper articles, and
announcements will inform people in the general area of the time and
place of such opportunities for public input into the CCP.

Refuge Information

    The South San Diego Unit of the San Diego NWR, located at the
southern end of San Diego Bay, supports tens of thousands of migrating
shorebirds, nesting seabirds, wintering sea ducks and other migratory
waterfowl. Included within the refuge boundaries is a salt production
operation that maintains about 1,050 acres of salt ponds. These ponds
provide large amounts of food in the form of fish, brine shrimp and
brine flies, all of which are particularly important for shorebirds and
seabirds. This refuge provides nesting, feeding, and resting habitat
for six endangered bird species, and feeding habitat for one listed sea
turtle species.
    The Sweetwater Marsh NWR, located in the southeast end of San Diego
Bay, includes 316 acres of salt marsh and coastal uplands. This refuge
provides habitat for two federally endangered species of bird
(California Least Tern and Light-footed Clapper Rail), one federally
endangered plant species (salt marsh bird's beak), the Belding's
Savannah Sparrow (a State of California endangered bird species), and
the Western Snowy Plover, a federally threatened species of bird.
Sweetwater Marsh functions as an essential link between Multiple
Species Conservation Program wildlands, the South San Diego Bay Unit,
and the Tijuana Slough NWR in Imperial Beach.
    Review of the CCP and associated environmental document will be
conducted in accordance with the requirements of the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et
seq.), NEPA Regulations (40 CFR 1500-1509), other appropriate Federal
laws and regulations, including the National Wildlife Refuge System
Improvements Act of 1997, Executive Order 12996, and Service policies
and procedures for compliance with those regulations. It is estimated
that a draft CCP and NEPA document will be made available for public
review in October 2001.

    Dated: June 16, 2000.
Elizabeth H. Stevens,
Acting Manager, California/Nevada Operations, Sacramento, California.
[FR Doc. 00-15891 Filed 6-22-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P

 
 

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